The Fans Come Out for Tim

Tim Tetrick     Southwind Tempo    Tim Studying Program

Feb. 28, 2008

Tim Tetrick–Illinois’ favorite son–has come home. 

For two nights, at least.  Tetrick was in town this evening at lovely Maywood Park to meet fans, sign autographs and give away 1,000 bobblehead dolls. 

These yellow and green-clad dolls appeared to be a fan favorite, and are slated to be given out again on Saturday night, March 1, at Balmoral Park in Crete, Ill., the big sister  to Maywood’s half-mile oval.  Located just 35 miles south of Chicago, alongside highway 394, is where you’ll find the one-mile sprawl, located out in the wilds of the Prairie State, just about a 40-minute drive south of the Windy City, depending on the traffic.

The somewhat shy yet affable Tetrick offered this to fans:  “It’s great to be back home,” he said. “I was very lucky to have a great year in 2007, and I’m really flattered by all the folks who’ve come out here tonight.  I have to drive some horses Friday night at The Meadowlands (in New Jersey), but then I’ll be back to see you all again on Saturday, at Balmoral.”

 Tetrick, just 26, is known in global harness racing circles as the Prairie State’s Boy Wonder.  In 2007, this Geff, Ill. native set the racing world on fire, breaking records in both driving wins and earnings.

The sandy-haired lad won an average of 3.25 races per daily at 18 tracks from New York to Illinois and finished up 2007 with an all-time record of 1,188 wins and $18,342,367 in purse earnings.  He boasted a UDR of .388 last season as the leading driver at Chester, Pocono and Dover Downs, and was the youngest driver ever to score 3,000 wins (at Harrington on May 28).

Tetrick also became the youngest driver ever to win not one, but two, million dollar races–both with Southwind Lynx–the Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers on June 2 and The Meadowlands Pace on July 14.  He also set the record for the most wins in a single month, when he steered 121 winners to first place prizes in November.

Tim was spotlighted in Sports Illustrated, USA Today and New York Times features in 2007, bringing attention and accolades to himself and to harness racing.

Despite his success, Tim hasn’t changed. He grew up around the dusty bullring ovals of the Illinois county fair circuit, following his parents, Tom and Mary Alice Tetrick as they raced trotters and pacers during the hot summers.  

Tim wasn’t pampered and he didn’t have it easy–he carried water buckets, mucked stalls and bathed horses–just like other kids who grew up in harness racing families.  Early on, Tim’s folks established a strong work ethic and dedication to the Standardbred that has stuck with him, and that has carried him to some of the highest accomplishments bestowed upon a lucky few in harness racing.

Our sport could certainly use more young drivers like Tim Tetrick.  On a chilly and snowy Chicago night, he sat amicably signing autographs and handing out bobblehead dolls–miniature likenesses of himself that danced in the hands of fans and gamblers. 

More proof that when harness racing has heroes, the fans will come.

Published in: on February 29, 2008 at 6:04 am

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  1. On February 29, 2008 at 4:17 pm J Pierce Said:

    Kim, you’ve done it again! This profile of Tim Tetrick is a delight; you make this racing phenom come alive on the page. Thanks for showing us this modern hero in dusty clothes.

    Harness Racing fans will be happy to find that there’s more of Kim Rinker’s excellent observations to read here.

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